Refuse box cover construction



A ril 22, 1952 F. H. STONER 2,594,233

REFUSE BOX COVER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 12, 1949 IN VEN TOR. fzrw? /z 52% 77e7'.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 REFUSE BOX COVER CONSTRUCTION Frank H. Stoner, Monroe, MiclL, assignor to Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 12, 1949, Serial No. 104,310

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to refuse con tainers and more particularly to a novel cover construction for such containers.

Many types of refuse containers have been provided in the past and most of these have had certain drawbacks which affect their simplicity and efficiency. For example, many refuse containers have a relatively small capacity and cannot handle a large volume of refuse, thus necessitatingfrequent emptying of same. Large containers have had the disadvantage of being hard to handle and empty, because of their size and weight. Still further, refuse containers, especially those used indoors, provide potential fire hazards, because even though the container may be made of metal, flames can still escape through the open top of the container and into adjacent areas.

The container of this invention is designed to overcome all of the above enumerated disadvantages in that the container has a relatively large capacity, is constructed so that it may be easily handled by lift trucks or the like, and has a novel cover construction which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to operate. Still further, the cover of this invention is constructed so that, if it is opened, it will automatically close in the event of a fire therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a refuse container having a relatively large capacity, which is so constructed that it may be easily handled, emptied and used. v

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel cover for a refuse container, which can be arranged so as to permit refuse to be deposited in the container from either of two sides or ends thereof.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a refuse container cover of the aforementioned type, which is made of fireproof material, and which is held open by fusible or combustible means which, in the event of fire, will cause the cover to automatically close the open end of the container.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide in a cover construction of the aforementioned type, novel means and a novel arrangement for holding the cover, or a portion thereof, in a raised or opened position.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in coniunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the refuse container of this invention, with a portion of the 2 cover shown in a raised position in clot and dash lines;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 3-3 thereof; and

Fig; 4 is a top perspective view of the novel cover construction of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the refuse container of this invention includes a box portion 5, preferably made of corrugated metal. The box portion 5 includes side and end walls i, having a flanged or beaded upper edge 9. The box 5 is provided with a bottom closure H, including spaced, longitudinally extending, runner-like legs is, having upwardly projecting and longitudinally extending side plates I5 connected therewith. The bottom closure H is hingedly connected with the box 5, at H, adjacent the rear wall thereof. The horizontal bottom wall portion IQ of the closure II is supported above the ground, or a supporting surface, by means of the legs I 3, far. enough to permit the entrance of a fork of a lift truck between the bottom wall [9 and the supporting surface. A pair of generally U-shaped brackets M are secured to the rear wall of the box 5, which are adapted to be engaged by a portion of a lift truck so that when it is desired to empty the box, the latter can be held in an elevated position by the engagement of a portion of the lift truck with the brackets 2i while the fork of the lift truck is lowered to permit the front end of the bottom closure H to drop down and thus empty the box, in a conventional manner. Thus, the refuse container, while having a rel atively large capacity, is easy to handle and empty, and a single operator, using a lift truck, can handle the container.

A cover 25 is provided for the box 5, and the cover includes a pair of substantially like sections 21 and 29. The outer periphery of the cover 25 is provided with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 30, which is adapted to fit over the upper beaded edge 9 of the box. The cover sections 21 and 29 have their adjacent edges hingedly interconnected at 3| so that one section may be swung out of the plane of the other section. Handles 33 are secured to each of the sections 2! and 29. adjacent the free edges of each, so as to permit either section to be easily raised. A rope 35, which may be either of a fusible or combustible material, or of a, non-fusible material, as will hereinafter appear, extends across the inafter appear.

cover 25, transversely of the hinge connection 3|. Theopposite ends of the rope extend slidably through eye brackets 39 on the top of the cover, adjacent the outer edge of each section, and a hook 31 is secured'to each end of the rope, outwardly of the eye brackets. The eye brackets 39 prevent the rope 35 from becoming disconnected from the cover 25, and at the same time provide guides for the rope, for apurpose which will here- Connected to the under side of each cover section 21 and 29, inwardly of the free edge thereof, is a bracket member or fuse link 4!. The member 4! is secured to. the under side of each cover section by any suitable means such as rivet 43, and the free end of the plate 4| is downwardly offset at 15. The oiiset portion 45 is provided with a vertically extending aperture 41 therethrough, for a use which will here-t inafter appear. The member 4| is preferably a fuse link, of the conventional type comprising a pair of brass portions soldered together. When the member 41 is a fuse link, the rope 35 need not be of a fusible or combustible material. However, if the member 4! is not a fuse link, but is just a. bracket member, the rope 35 will be of a fusible or combustible material.

It will thus be seen that the cover 25 closes the upper open end of the box 5 and that either section of the cover 25 may be raised so asto permit refuse to be deposited in the box from either end thereof. If it is desired to hold one section, such as section 29, in a raised position relative to the other section 2?, the coversection. 29, is raised in'the manner illustrated in Fig.

1;, When the section 291s raised, the rope 35 is sl'ackened. and the rope hook 31 is extended aroundthe free edge of the cover section 29 and cQnnected 'to'the bracket member or fuse link 41,. by insertion into theaperture t'i. The cover section29, will thusbe held in a raised position by the rope 3 5, and'the construction is such that the. cover section 27 or whichever cover section is. resting on the top of the box, will hold the raised, cover section in its upwardly swung position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, in dot and dash lines.

In the event that refuse in the box, 5 should catch, fire, either the rope 35 or the fuse link H,, as the case may be, will either melt or burn and will release the raised cover section so. that it will fall, to its closed position. In this way, any

fire will be completely enclosed. withinv the metal container and cannot spread so as. to do damage to, any adjacent property or material.

The cover construction of this invention thus permits. refuse to be deposited in the container from either of two sides thereof, and provides a novel arrangement for maintainin one cover section in, a raised, open position relative to the other cover section, while at thev same time pro- 4 viding a fireproof construction wherein the open section will fall closed in the event of fire within or around the container.

What is claimed is:

1. A container including a box having an open upperrend, a cover supported on said box and closing the open upper end thereof, said cover including two hingedly interconnected sections whereby one of said sections may be raised relattive to the other section to provide access to the interior of said box, rope means extending across the top of said cover sections transversely of the hinge connection, means detachably connecting said rope means to each of said sections adjacent the free edges thereof, and means connected with the under side of at least one of said'sections,'to which one end of said rope means can be connected when said one cover section is raised relative to the top of said box and the other cover section, so as to hold said one section in its raised position relative to the other section and said box.

2. A container including a fireproofbox portion having an opening in the upper portion thereof, a fireproof cover supported on said box and normally closing said box opening, said cover including two hingedly interconnected sections, whereby either section can be raised relative to said box portion to provide, access to said box portion opening from either of, two sides thereof; a rope extending across the top of said cover sections, transversely of the hinge connection, eye type bracket means secured to the top of said cover adjacent the opposite edges thereof through which the opposite ends of said rope slidably extend, hookhke means connected to the ends, of said rope outwardly of said bracket means, so as to detachably connect said rope to each of said sections adjacent the free edges thereof, and a fuse link connected with the under side of at least one of said sections, inwardly of said eye-type bracket means, to which the hook on one end of said rope-can be connected when said one cover section is raised relative to the other cover section and said box, so as to hold said one section in its raised position relative to the. other sec,- tion.

FRANK H. STONER.

REFERENCES strap The following references are of record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

